A backpacking cat! Who knew?
Apparently dogs aren’t the only four-legged friends that enjoy the trail Check out this backpacking cat! Too cute! (And appropriately so, I found this on cuteoverload.com). Enjoy!
Aug
5
Apr
1
Can Horses and Backpackers Share the Trail?
Many favorite backpacker trails are also favored by horseback riders. Can backpackers and horseback riders share the same trails? Is there animosity between the two groups or do they coexist in their passion to enjoy the outdoors? I’m not sure how horseback riders feel about backpackers? Are they annoyed by our presence on the trail or do they enjoy running across us on the trail? While I don’t know how they feel about us, I know there are mixed feelings among backpackers regarding horseback riders. And I’m saddened to report it.
Some hikers do tout a sense of snobbery against horseback riders. Their point is that hiking is much more strenuous an activity than horseback riding. Thus, hikers have a sense of entitlement to the trail, sort or we-work-harder-so-we-deserve-more attitude. But I’m not necessarily in this group of hikers. I love riding horseback riding. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to have one of my own, my best friend growing up did have horses. And we rode together ALL the time. So, I appreciate the fact that horseback riders want to enjoy the trails as much as hikers and backpackers. And I also realize that horseback riding is much more strenuous than it looks. I even enjoy seeing horseback riders on the trail. I just love horses and I get a kick out of being near them. (My dog is not so much a fan though. I’m not sure if he thinks they are big dogs and that’s what sets him off, but he seems more interested in fighting them than anything.)
Another and I feel quite legitimate case that backpackers take against horseback riders is the damage they cause to the trail. Horse hooves tear up the trail making backpacking less pleasant for those behind them. And speaking of horse behinds, horses leave quite large, quite unpleasant “gifts” on the trail that backpackers face the challenge of dodging.
While a similar case can be made against dogs on the trail, the damage and “gifts” dogs leave are much less severe. Plus, my dog, like most I would imagine, goes OFF the trail to take care of his business. But horses don’t go off trail. They their business while they are walking, ON the trail. And I understand that it would be too much to ask a horse to stop, go off trail, do their thing, and then return to the trail. I’m not necessarily OFFENDED by the horse gifts, but it does detract from the beauty of the trail, not to mention the unpleasant smell.
So what’s the answer? Should there be designated horse trails and backpacker trails so that the two will not cross paths? Either that or we all have to take this as a lesson in tolerance.
Jan
1
Bad Luck Bear
Some bears are lucky …
Baby Knut
some are born into loving families, taken in by their own mothers, grow up with other bear friends and enjoy a long life in a stable home environment. But other bears are not as fortunate. Remember Knut, the polar bear? He was born two years ago this month at the Berlin Zoo. At birth, Knut was rejected by his own mother. His brother, born at the same time as him, did not survive an early infection. Knut was placed in an incubator, and hand fed.
His zookeeper, Thomas Dörflein, took him in and raised him like a son.
Controversy spurred as some animal right’s activist thought a polar bear being raised by a human was unjust. In fact, some argued the zoo should have let the cub die, as he would have if born (and rejected) in the wild. But to Knut’s good fortune (or arguably so), he was not left for dead.
The zoo received great attention for this cub, even though some disagreed with their decision. And soon Knut and Thomas were a favorite exhibit at the zoo. This duo became so popular that “Knutmania” was coined and the zoo’s revenues increased approximately 30 percent from the previous year. Knut even appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair. He was quite popular for an abandoned cub. But his popularity would not stave off more bad luck. On September 22, 2008, this duo would be no more. Thomas died of a heart attack at just 44 years of age. Many mourned his untimely departure, but perhaps none so much as Knut.
And now, just a few months after his “father’s” passing, Knut faces more bad news. The Berlin Zoo can no longer keep him. At two years old, the almost full -grown bear needs more room than they can offer (or afford with the spiraling economy). While Knut’s snow-white coat, cute personality, and adorable demeanor once attracted swarms of visitors, he is no longer the crowd-pleaser of his younger days. Reports are now that Knut has grown somewhat grumpy and is less likely to “perform” for an audience.
His coat is no longer bright white,
giving way to a dingy brown, surely contributing to his lack of popularity.
But can we really blame him for losing his spark? His life has been filled with hardships—never having real mother, losing his brother as an infant, and then losing his only parental figure. And now, he’s losing the only place he’s called home. Has Knut been abandoned once again? Have his fans so soon forgotten him? Where are all the loyal followers who sparked Knutmania in the first place? And is the zoo doing the “financially responsible” thing, as they claim, or are they abandoning Knut in his time of need, just as his mother did? Is there any hope for this still young cub? Is there anyone willing to help him out?
The Berlin Zoo has created a Web site to honor Thomas at http://www.zoo-berlin.de/index.php?id=1267. The zoo also created the Thomas Dörflein Prize to honor other outstanding zookeepers. The first award will be given out in June 2009. The young Knut has his own Web site too: http://www.knut.net.